Get measured expert and speedy advice when you need it the most

Being presented with a settlement agreement (formerly known as compromise agreements) by your employer can be unsettling and daunting. Though circumstances vary, you are most likely to receive a settlement agreement when your employer is suggesting bringing the employment to an end.

By law there is a legal requirement that a Solicitor reviews and explains the terms of the settlement agreement to you before you have to sign anything. So if you've been offered a settlement agreement by your employer we're happy to provide advice.

Turn around times are often tight for finalising settlement agreements and you may require legal support fast. We can almost always accommodate same-day appointments, including outside normal office hours.

We will explore any potential claims you may have (such as unfair dismissal, discrimination claims, a right to a redundancy payment, etc) and what you will be forgoing by signing the agreement.

With offices all over Scotland in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Thurso, Inverness, and Shetland our employment solicitors have been working hard to ensure clients understand their legal rights and remedies before signing up to settlement agreements or compromise agreements for over 15 years.

We have a number of Solicitors who are listed as 'Leaders' in the field by legal directories and accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as Employment Law specialists so you know your in safe hands.

We can provide sound practical advice in a sensitive and confidential manner. When making an important decision that affects you and your family, you need to know that you are in safe hands. Quality is at the heart of what we do.

I was absolutely delighted with the advice and support I received from Lesley Murphy whilst negotiating a settlement agreement with my former employer. Lesley was always very prompt in reading anything sent to her and in getting back to me with advice which was always legally sound, relevant and practical.

Why use Harper Macleod to review your settlement agreement

Complete transparency on fees: Most of the time employers will make a contribution to your legal cost (which will cover your fees) however if there is an additional cost we will always be upfront and transparent about our fees and would not do additional work without consulting you.

Wherever you are based: Employment law is UK wide so we can advise in all settlement agreements whether your employer is based in Scotland or the rest of the UK.

Near you: With offices all over Scotland in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Thurso, Inverness, and Lerwick you can come in a location near you to discuss your settlement in person.

In safe hands: We have a number of Solicitors who are listed as 'Leaders in their field' by Chambers UK (Legal directory guide), so you know you're in safe hands. Check out the individual members of our employment team to see the breadth of their experience.

Your opinion counts: When making an important decision that affects you and your family, you need to know that you are in safe hands and that we will always listen to your needs.

Our sectors experience

We can advise on your settlement agreement no matter what sector you are in, and have extensive experience in sectors including, but not limited to, the following:

Banking and financial

Education

Energy and natural resources

Healthcare

Hospitality

Information technology

Legal

Life sciences

Manufacturing

Oil & gas

Professional Services

Property and construction

Public

Retail

Security

Social care

Sport

Third sector

Transport and logistics

Send us details of your circumstances

Make sure you're getting a fair deal, speak to our employment team now. Call us on 0141 227 9680 or use the form below to send us your details for a chat about your settlement agreement.

Lesley's handling of my settlement agreement was extremely professional. Everything was handled in a very timely manner, yet fully addressed & discussed as was required.

As with my previous dealing with Harper Macleod, I couldn't ask for a better service, from the first call to the final consultation

Recent Settlement Client

I recently I found myself in an employment dispute with my multi-national employer; Scott at Harper Macleod was an effective specialist friend, who empowered me to achieve a fair settlement

HM Client

I recently went to see Ewan Stafford at Harper Macleod as I needed to seek advice from an Employment Solicitor regarding a Settlement Agreement, I didn't know where to start as I had never seen a Settlement Agreement before. I contacted Ewan Stafford, having got the telephone number from the website and got straight through to Ewan, I can only say that nothing was too much trouble for him. I called him in the morning and he said that he could see me that day so we arranged a time for me to pop in and he explained it all very carefully to me, thankfully in simple terms - no Solicitor jargon!! Ewan Stafford was invaluable in helping me through a difficult time. He was very understanding, explained what my options were, made time to listen and checked that I understood everything before I left.

What really impressed me was how quickly it was dealt with, the friendly, professional service I received and how easy he was to get in touch with, direct number straight through to him if I had any concerns or questions. He kept me informed during the whole process either by email or telephone. Needless to say he organised the Settlement for me and I was very happy with the end result. I would highly recommend Ewan to anyone who is looking to deal with a professional, friendly gentleman who takes your issues seriously and likes to do the best he possibly can for you.

Recent Settlement Client

"I was absolutely delighted with the advice and support I received from Lesley Murphy whilst negotiating a settlement agreement with my former employer. Lesley was always very prompt in reading anything sent to her and in getting back to me with advice which was always legally sound, relevant and practical. Her ability to highlight the key points to be considered greatly assisted me in my decision making.

I would strongly recommend Lesley to anyone who is considering entering into a settlement agreement."

Senior Academic Client

I’d be delighted to recommend Lesley Murphy who gave me excellent advice. Lesley’s counsel was very, very wise and it was only after we completed everything I truly realised that I’d been given great advice. Lesley was targeted and determined and I would have nothing but the highest regard and recommendation for Harper Macleod in this area

Recent Settlement Client

Scott provided a good level of support to get me through a very unsettling process and did offer to service any and all questions that may have had.

HM Client

Our blogs about settlement agreements

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Getting put on garden leave from a business you have been a loyal servant to can seem like a kick in the teeth. It’s a really difficult and stressful time and often takes a while to get your head around, whether you are leaving through choice or not, the way businesses deal with departing senior professionals and executives is hard to take.

10 important things to consider when you’re asked to sign a Settlement Agreement

Being presented with a settlement agreement (formerly known as a compromise agreement) by your employer can be stressful.

The settlement agreement may come on the back of discussions and negotiations between employer and employee or it may be a bolt from the blue. The background to the proposal can vary though commonly it goes alongside a proposed termination of employment.

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The oil industry is a key employer for the UK. However, the ongoing strain of a subdued oil price is taking its toll. It is estimated that - at the turn of the year - there were 230,000 oil jobs in the UK, down from the lofty heights of 330,000 oil workers at the peak of the industry in 2014.

In industry redundancies, it's common for "settlement agreements" (formerly "compromise agreements") to be used, setting out the package on offer while at the same time compromising the individual worker's ability to make a claim against their employer in respect of their employment or its termination

Contact one of our offices

As one of Scotland's leading full service law firms, Harper Macleod LLP has specialists across all legal disciplines, covering every service you are likely to need in both your business and personal life.

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